Hamilton County school board members have pledged not to sell or transfer ownership of Signal Mountain’s school buildings if the community opts to break away and form its own school system.
The school board voted 7-1 Thursday night to approve a resolution, which was added to the board’s agenda in an amendment at the beginning of the meeting, encouraging Signal Mountain to remain a part of the district, but if it does form its own municipal school system, Hamilton County Schools will not sell or transfer ownership of the three school buildings located on the mountain.
That is because Hamilton County would still have the responsibility to educate the students who live in unincorporated Hamilton County and on Walden’s Ridge. The district has taken that stance before – once earlier this year in an email exchange between school board attorney Scott Bennett and the town of Signal Mountain’s attorney, and then again during a panel discussion with county officials.
During a workshop meeting before Thursday’s vote, board members discussed the resolution and their position on the matter.
“Our communities have the right to determine what happens to their community,” school board member David Testerman said. “Signal Mountain has the right, by law, to change their charter” to form a municipal school district.